THE BEGINNING:
White River Merino Stud was founded on pure Collinsville blood in 1951. Only the very best Collinsville genetics have been introduced with several world record priced rams being purchased from the parent stud, coupled with select infusions from the most suitable leading Australian sires, enabling White River to cement a type for which it is renowned.We have now succeeded in breeding a genuine White River blood type of animal.
OUR COUNTRY:
The White River Stud has centralised and is now run on 10,000ha on Western Upper Eyre Peninsula on properties at Minnipa and Poochera. Our country is 300mm rainfall, broadacre agricultural limestone country.
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SELECTION CRITERIA:
Our aim is to produce extra large framed correct structured animals with good fleshing qualities, carrying long stapled soft handling nourished wools on plain bodies. We have refrained from chasing trends and opted to produce our own unique superior quality Dual Purpose Merino by following these aims. Our clip averages for the last 3 years are 20.2 Micron with a 72.5 yield. Our mature ewes cut 8-9 kg, Micron 20.0-21.5. Hoggets cut 7-8kg and Micron 19.5-20.5 depending on the season. Bodyweight of 15 month old rams from around up to 120 kgs and top breeding ewes also 100-110 kgs.At White River we are aiming towards bigger, plainer, freer types of animals to cater for less mulesing.
SELECTION METHOD:
Visual assessment of our animals remains paramount. We certainly use objective measurements to help us fine tune our wool selections, but we very much believe its some of the characteristics you can’t measure that are so important in Stud Merino Sheep breeding. Sheep have to survive in a paddock NOT on a whiteboard. We constantly body weigh our rams and place a lot of emphasis on growth rate. Consequently all rams offered for sale have current objective wool test results and eye muscle depth and body weight figures.
BREEDING EWES:
Approximately 1800 ewes are mated each year of which approx 1200 ewes are laproscoped.
MAIN SIRES USED:
Merinos - White River and North Ashrose, Collinsville with a blend of sires from the SRS system.
Poll Merinos – Ridgway Advance, Leachim, Roemahkita, Collinsville.
SHOW RESULTS:
While not chasing show ribbons the Stud is honoured to win them when they come along.
The Stud does not show at the Royal Show, opting instead to participate in the Eyre Peninsula and SA Stud Merino Field Day Competitions.
The studs recent success is quite stunning.
- Eyre Peninsula Field Day: (March)
1998 - EP Ram of the Year & EP Hogget Ram of the Year
1999 - EP Ram of the Year & EP Hogget Ram of the Year
(recess until 2004)
2004 - EP Ram of the Year & Elders Champion Pen of Three young rams.
2005 - EP Ram of the Year & Elders Champion Pen of Three Young Rams
2006 - EP Ram of the Year & Elders Champion Pen of Three Young Rams.
2007 - Elders EP Hogget Ram of the Year & Farmers Choice Pen of Three Young Rams
2008 - Elders EP Hogget Ram of The Year & Farmers Choice Pen of Three Young Rams
2009 - Elders EP Hogget Ram of The Year & The Farmers Choice Pen Of Three Young Rams
- SA Stud Merino Field Days - Burra: (March)
1991 -WR Apollo 84 -SA Ram of the Year
1999 - WR Regent 11 - SA Ram of the Year
2005 - Hayman 63 - SA Ram of the Year
2006 - Commonwealth 34 - SA Ram of the Year- Also in 2006 - SA Ram of the Year and Ram and Ewe Pair of the Year
2006 - White River - Winner - Group of Five, 3 Merino Rams & 2 Ewes to represent SA at Katanning Sheep Show July 2006. And in 1999 -
White Rivers Regent 11 won Australian Supreme
Merino Ram award, enough said
SELLING AVENUES:
White River Ram Sales
Annual On Property Sale Tuesday August 17th 2010 at “Kuddleba Well” Poochera.
180 Specially selected Merino & Poll Merino rams 180
Inspection Day - Watch this space for details.Springtime – 200 rams for private selection – more information on enquiry.
Our Poll Merino Stud was established in November 2006 with the transfer of 200 White River ewes and the purchase of semen from Kamora Park, Leahcim and Willemenup . In May 2007 White River purchased the complete Almaree Poll Merino stud breeding ewe base (50 years of poll only breeding) and RA570 was purchased from Ridgway Advance stud for $7,000 in September 2007. The Poll Stud was registered in December 2007.
The stud purchased (in partnership) the top price ram at the Ridgway Advance On Property Sale in 2008 “RA 133” for $7,500 a very long bodied correct ram with outstanding SRS type wool.
STOP PRESS –
White River sold the highest price Poll Merino ram at the 2009 Burra Field Days in March. A son of Ridgway Advance 570 and out of a Commonwealth 34 daughter the ram was purchased by Ross Wells, Willandra, Jerilderie NSW for $5,000.